River Rocks

I strung together
a few slender reeds, carved
notches to breathe across, and made
such music you stood
dead still and then

followed as I wandered through
the weeds, growing
doe-eyed and weary, my feet
slapping over the river rocks, splashing
out their water

you were behind me, drowning
in the music, undoing the laces in
your boots so that you too could feel the
water on your bare skin

I can't remember
where this happened but I think
at some point in your life,
you stood beneath the pale light
of the moon, realizing I wouldn’t be there
to play for you forever and you asked
me to teach you how play that
woody flute

you scared the birds away,
but even with your shaky tune,
I stayed, smiling, humming along until
you got it just right